March 6th is World Lymphedema Day. “10 million Americans suffer with lymphedema (LE) in the United States and 250 million people worldwide have lymphedema (LE), more than HIV, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and ALS combined.” Many go unnoticed and undiagnosed. (1) 
It is reported that up to 2 out of 5 Breast Cancer patients will develop Lymphedema within 5 years of treatment. Lymphedema moves slowly and typically is seen between 18- and 24-months post treatment. 
Managing Lymphedema can be expensive with garments lasting about 6 months. Most insurance now covers garments and pumps, making lymphedema much more affordable. Most garments are easy to use and can be used independently. 
One of the side effects of lymphedema is having a higher risk of infections like skin infection and cellulitis. 
Lymphedema can lead to significant psychological problems such as depression and anxiety or feeling isolated and unsupported. The emotional effects can be as harmful as the disease. 
It is difficult to predict who will get Lymphedema post treatment. 
There are ancient texts, including Hippocrates that document chronic swelling and treatments. (2) 
Most Doctors are taught one hour or less on lymphedema during their four years of school. (3)  
Lymphedema can be mostly found in the legs and arms, however, it can also occur in the face, neck, abdomen, and genitals. 
Lymphedema is not exclusive to humans: it can also affect animals, including dogs and horses. Often veterinarians use similar treatment strategies. Famous actress, Kathy Bates is a prominent advocate for lymphedema awareness. She speaks on lymphedema following a double mastectomy. 
Art is a wonderful medium to express an experience with lymphedema and breast cancer. Many creative pieces highlighting breast cancer can be seen on Cancer Tamer's website: https://cancertamer.org/art-exhibition                                                                                                         . 1.Greene AK. Epidemiology and morbidity of lymphedema. In: Springer eBooks. ; 2015:33-44. doi:10.1007/978-3- 319-14493-1_4 2.Touwaide A, De Santo NG. Edema in the corpus hippocraticum. American Journal of Nephrology. 1999;19(2):155-158. doi:10.1159/000013442 3.Why-do-doctors-know-so-little-about-Lymphedema. https://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-health.